Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., cautioned House colleagues to not fall into the "trap" of pursuing an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden.
Paul, appearing this week on Fox Business' "Mornings with Maria," said House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's openness to launching an inquiry risks continuing a dangerous trend in American politics.
"I think the Democrats set a terrible precedent in impeaching [former President] Donald Trump just because they didn't like him, basically," Paul said. "Both of their impeachments fell flat and made them look terrible.
"But I think it is not good for the republic to keep impeaching presidents, indicting presidents," Paul added, arguing that the GOP shouldn't "fall into the same trap" as Democrats of "pitting everyone against each other."
McCarthy recently told Fox News that the accusations leveled at Biden, his son Hunter Biden, and other family members were escalating to where an inquiry would be justified.
"We will follow this to the end," McCarthy, a California Republican, said Monday, refusing to elaborate.
In a statement, the Biden administration expressed its disapproval of McCarthy's statement, The Hill reported.
McCarthy's suggestion is "a ridiculous, baseless stunt, intended to attack the President at a time when House Republicans should instead be joining the President to focus on the important issues facing the American people," the statement read. "But just as soon as McCarthy floated this stunt, he was met with resistance – from members of his own party and even his own caucus."
A Morning Consult poll released July 10 found that 30% of registered voters believe it should be a "top priority" for Congress to investigate whether Biden should be impeached.